8 small businesses get $25K start-up boost

Eight small Island companies have received $25,000 each in start-up capital from Innovation PEI through a new venture called the Ignition Program.

In the lobby of the Atlantic Technology Centre Wednesday, Innovation Minister Alan Roach announced the businesses that received the funding from the program, which is designed to encourage entrepreneurship.

The companies are small, and many of them are new, such as Brian Howatt's company Can't Check This, a brand of sports apparel for women.

Howatt says the government's investment is valuable.

"It's a real help. I mean, $25,000 is good money. We already have a fair bit of money invested in it in terms of the development that we had to do, the research we had to do."

Caroline LeBlanc was able to expand her Alexandra-based business treating patients with post-traumatic stress disorder.

"We have psychologists on staff, social workers, occupational therapists, nurses and yoga teachers at this time. So we try to tailor the program for people's needs."

Roach says once businesses are up and running and prove viable, they'll be eligible for other government programs.

"We'll look, we'll watch and see how these succeed and if they're successful, we'll definitely be taking a closer look at future investments and increasing them as well."

A total of 46 companies applied for the funding.

Roach says there will be future opportunities for other companies to compete for this government cash investment.